“Beyond Attendance: Lessons Learned and Strategies for the Year Ahead”
A practical conversation on what schools learned this year about chronic absenteeism—and how to build stronger student engagement next year.
As the School Year Ends, Many Schools Are Asking the Same Questions
What worked?
What didn’t?
And how do we make meaningful progress next year?
Across the country, schools continue to face significant challenges related to chronic absenteeism and student disengagement. For many educators, this year brought both progress and frustration—along with a growing realization that attendance is connected to much deeper issues involving student connection, belonging, motivation, and mental health.
As schools head into summer planning, this is an important opportunity to reflect on what we’ve learned and begin preparing for a stronger start next school year.
Free Webinar for Educators
Wednesday June 17th
1:00 – 2:00 PM MT | 12 PT | 2 CT | 3 ET
Join Us for a Practical Conversation
In this webinar, experienced education leaders from WhyTry and RaaWee K12 will discuss:
- Key attendance trends and challenges schools faced this year
- What schools are doing that is making a real difference Lessons learned from districts working to improve attendance
- How student connection and school climate impact engagement
- Practical strategies schools can begin planning for now to support stronger attendance next year
This conversation is designed to be practical, encouraging, and grounded in the real experiences educators are facing right now.
Who Should Attend
School and district leaders – Counselors and support staff – Teachers – Attendance and MTSS teams – Anyone working to improve student engagement and outcomes
💬 Know a colleague who’d benefit? Share the link—this is a conversation every educator should be part of.
About the Partnership
RaaWeeK12
Supporting schools with innovative approaches to student connection, engagement, and system-wide improvement.
WhyTry
Addressing the root issues behind chronic absenteeism and helping students build resilience, motivation, and the skills they need to stay engaged in school.
Meet our panelists:
David Kopperude
David is a nationally recognized leader in student attendance and engagement. He previously served as the Child Welfare and Attendance Consultant for the California Department of Education and chaired the State School Attendance Review Board under three State Superintendents, helping lead statewide efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism and dropout rates.
David has supervised attendance in three California school districts and has championed strategies that address barriers for vulnerable students, including leading the Model SARB Recognition Program to highlight effective practices across the state. He is a recipient of the Lee Lundberg Award for outstanding service to California students and now serves as a Consultant with RaaWee K12.
Sharon Bradley
Sharon Bradley is a Texas education leader with more than 25 years of experience in student engagement, equity, and dropout prevention. She has served as a teacher, principal, and district administrator, leading initiatives that significantly reduced chronic absenteeism and built stronger systems of support for students and families. Widely recognized for her innovative and equity-driven approach, Sharon has been honored nationally for her impact in helping districts reimagine attendance and student success. She now serves as a Principal Consultant at RaaWee K12.
Jason Johnson
Jason Johnson is a licensed school psychologist and Director of Training & Research for WhyTry, where he consults and trains educators nationwide on resilience-based strategies to support student success. A nationally recognized expert in resilience education, he has spoken at hundreds of conferences and led WhyTry program implementations in schools, healthcare, corporate settings, and the U.S. Military. Passionate about helping students overcome challenges, Jason is dedicated to creating a culture of resilience in education.